Officials say diesel spill in Lake Co. creek cleaned up
Environmental officials said they are confident they have cleaned up nearly all of a diesel spill that was discovered on Squaw Creek late last week.
But they still haven't figured out the source of the spill, said Capt. Rich Hoehne of the Fox Lake Fire Department.
He said officials will keep the large, white absorbent booms floating on Squaw Creek near Rollins Road to soak up any lingering diesel fuel that remains in the water. He said officials are 95 percent sure the spill was diesel fuel. The creek connects Long Lake to Fox Lake and the Chain O' Lakes.
Officials from the state and federal environmental protection agencies and the Illinois Conservation Department will return Thursday to traverse the creek looking for any potential spill points.
"It'll be warmer and give them a chance to go up and down the creek looking for spill points," he said.
The spill was discovered at about 9 p.m. Thursday just upstream from the Squaw Bar, 800 Rollins Road, in unincorporated Ingleside by people who complained they could smell gas.
It's still unclear how much of the liquid chemical was dumped into the water, officials said Friday.
The spill is not considered life-threatening to fish or wildlife.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=275614">Fox Lake emergency crews cleaning chemical spill in creek <span class="date">[02/27/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>